Patience... or Patient?

You choose. It wasn’t that long ago that I was choosing the path of little resistance, which is what happens when you don’t make a decision – or even realize that there is a choice. My life and my health were spinning out of control and I was the first one to say “hey, if you had my circumstances you would be stressed out too!”

As the Area Manager of half my state, with responsibility over hundreds of employees and having to travel while leaving little ones at home I thought “who wouldn’t be stressed out!”

But, I am suggesting that a large part of your stress is from lack of patience. Mine was. Doctors confirm 75% of people are going to see a physician due to stress related illnesses. That’s 3 out of 4 of us! I was one of those 3, went to the emergency room and was the patient many times with testing after testing. And nothing was physically wrong… yet. And was the beginning of change for me. However, I only changed my circumstances, not my attitude. Holly’s habitude was still an attitude by habit but it was a bad attitude by habit! And guess what… the stress followed me even after I removed myself from that situation!

I remember first reading about “the peace that transcends all understanding” in the bible and laughing out loud. Then I read a little more, and a little more, and a little more. Then I began to “Act as if…” I actually started to stop myself and take the time to THINK before I threw myself into a frenzy, “how would a patient person act?”

No really, how does a patient person act? They ACT AS IF, even when they don’t feel like it… at first. But that is why I call it “habitude” because at first it’s on purpose, but then it’s just habit!

Stress comes in when we perceive that we have no control, when we think about the wrong things.

The “peace that transcends all understanding” comes in when we perceive ourselves as patient people… because patient people DO HAVE CONTROL.

Philippians is absolutely true, I’m living proof and it has changed my life. Believe me, I have been there and am amazed at how patient I am today… truly a miracle. I want this for you.

Patient people stop and think… and what can you think about and meditate on? Well I’m glad you ask! This is one of the best scriptures to memorize so you can replace the “Oh my gosh!” with a reverent “Oh, my God”

A patient person will ACT AS IF they know this to be true and act accordingly:

Philippians 4:4-7

Rejoice in the Lord always. Let your gentleness be evident to all. (do it on purpose!)
Do not be anxious about anything. But in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to the Lord. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Jesus Christ.

Once we stop worrying (on purpose) we can make intelligent decisions! I did my best at managing when I figured out how to delegate… take control by DECIDING to give it all to God!

And then in the Lord’s infinite wisdom, he follows up with Philippians 4:9 telling us what we need to be thinking about:

Philippians 4:8,9

Whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable – if anything is excellent or praiseworthy – think about such things!

If you don’t have anything in your life that is noble, praiseworthy or admirable… you aren’t looking up. Look up.